Reza Dana, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc.

Biographical Sketch

Reza Dana is a Professor of Ophthalmology and the Claes Dohlman Chair in Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Dana, who is both an ophthalmologist and an immunologist, has a particular interest in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of inflammation and immunity in the eye and ocular surface.   In addition to his position as Senior Scientist and W. Clement Stone Scholar in the basic science faculty of The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Dr. Dana also serves as Director of the Cornea Service faculty at The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and is a member of the Committee on Immunology at Harvard Medical School where he teaches immunology. Dr. Dana is Director of the Harvard-Vision Clinical Scientist Development Program. In addition to his basic science research, Dr. Dana is also active in the design and conduct of ophthalmic drug clinical trials.

After graduating Summa Cum Laude from St. Paul's School in Concord, NH, Dr. Dana received his bachelor's ( Phi Beta Kappa ), graduate, and medical education at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.   After an internship in Internal Medicine, he performed his residency in Ophthalmology at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago.   This was followed by a clinical fellowship in Cornea and External Diseases at The Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.   Subsequently, Dr. Dana came to Boston for additional fellowship training in Immunology and Uveitis at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and in Ocular and Transplantation Immunology at the Schepens Eye Research Institute and Harvard Medical School, where he was supported by both a Heed Fellowship and an Individual NIH-National Research Service Award grant. 

Dr. Dana's research is supported by RO1 funding from the NIH in addition to grants from private research foundations, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, the US Department of Defense, and the Harvard Department of Ophthalmology Joint Clinical Research Center.

Dr. Dana is a member of numerous national and international professional and research organizations, including The Transplantation Society, The American Association of Immunologists, The Castroviejo Cornea Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Uveitis Society. In addition, he serves on the Medical & Scientific Advisory Boards of the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation, the Wadsworth Foundation for MS research, the National Sjogren's Syndrome Association, and the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society.

Dr. Dana has authored over 200 peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and book chapters.   In addition, he served as editor of the Eye and Systemic Disease volume of The Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology and serves as member of the faculty of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Basic Clinical and Science Course's Cornea and External Disease section.   Dr. Dana is additionally on the editorial board of the journals Cornea and The Ocular Surface and is a recipient of multiple awards, including the Research to Prevent Blindness William and Mary Greve Special Scholar Award, the Achievement Award of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Cogan Award of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology for his contributions to the field of ophthalmology and ophthalmic science.

Honors

1981 National Cum Laude Society
1984 Phi Beta Kappa (Junior Year), Johns Hopkins University
1981-85 Dean’s List (Every Semester), Johns Hopkins University
1988 Fight For Sight Research Div. of the National Society to Prevent Blindness Student Fellowship
1989 Henry Strong Dennison Award for Research, Johns Hopkins U. School of Medicine
1994 National Eye Institute/ ARVO Travel Fellowship
1995 Named Fellow of the Society of Heed Fellows (Special Recognition Award)
1999 Research to Prevent Blindness William & Mary Greve Scholar (Special Recognition Award)
2002 Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology
2002 Krill Memorial Lecturer, Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary
2002 Fry Memorial Lecturer, Wills Eye Hospital
2003 Dohlman Lecturer, Harvard Department of Ophthalmology
2003 Cogan Award, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
2004 Alta Lecturer, U California-San Francisco
2004 Keynote Speaker, 28th Japan Cornea Conference and 20th Japan Keratoplasty Association
2005 Research to Prevent Blindness Physician Scientist Award

2005 Awardee, Alcon Research Institute

2006 Service Recognition Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology
2007 American Board of Ophthalmology Certificate of Appreciation
2007 Listed, "Best Doctors of America" (selected by peers)
2007 Listed, "Best Ophthalmologists" (selected by peers), Boston Magazine
2008 Alcon Research Institute Award

2009-2010 Research to Prevent Blindness Lew R. Wasserman Merit Award